We don't yet know the details about the #DamarHamlin tragic emergency but we do know several important facts.
1⃣ Early, high quality CPR is essential in survival from cardiac arrest. The #NFL has CPR trained individuals seconds away.
Does your family?
Your kid's team?
2...
2⃣ Early defibrillation is critical to certain cardiac arrest types. Specifically those most commonly suffered by young people during sports.
Does your school/sporting venue/work have an AED (automated external defibrillator)?
3...
3⃣While we don't know specifics of this case, #commotiocordis is rare but important to know about. Most frequently in teens hit in chest with a baseball, it's caused by an interruption in electrical activity of the heart at a very specific moment in the heartbeat.
Previously...
Previously thought to be universally fatal, it has been shown to be survivable if... you guessed it... the patient receives early CPR & early defibrillation.
Cardiac arrest is VERY bad, but is not always a death sentence, especially in young people.
Take home points...
👆First, learn CPR. If you are a coach, teacher, parent, sibling, friend, neighbor-- learn CPR. You can save a life.
✌️Second, have AEDs. Everywhere. Every business, every sporting venue, every school, every restaurant.
Hoping for a full recovery of #DamarHamlin 🙏
Questions?
Ben Weston MD MPH
Catherine is not complacent
Andrew Leahey
Big Nurse Mike